ix, 418 pages ; 22 cm

George R. Stewart's classic study of place-naming in the United States was written during World War II as a tribute to the varied heritage of the nation's peoples. More than half a century later, Names on the Land remains the authoritative source on its subject, while Stewart's intimate knowledge of America and love of anecdote make his book a unique and delightful window on American history and social life. Names on the Land is a fascinating and fantastically detailed panorama of language in action. Stewart opens with the first European names in what would later be the United States--Ponce de León's flowery Florída, Cortés's semi-mythical isle of California, and the red Rio Colorado--before going on to explore New England, New Amsterdam, and New Sweden, the French and the Russian legacies, and the unlikely contributions of everybody from border ruffians to Boston Brahmins. These lively pages examine where and why Indian names were likely to be retained; nineteenth-century fads that gave rise to dozens of Troys and Athens and to suburban Parksides, Brookmonts, and Woodcrest Manors; and deep and enduring mysteries such as why "Arkansas" is Arkansaw, except of course when it isn't. Names on the Land will engage anyone who has ever wondered at the curious names scattered across the American map. Stewart's answer is always a story--one of the countless stories that lie behind the rich and strange diversity of the USA

Maps on lining-papers

"First printing."

Maps on lining-papers

Of what was attempted in this book -- Of the naming that was before history -- How the first Spaniards gave names -- Of the English, Spanish, and French in the same years -- Of Charles Stuart and some others -- How the Massachusetts General Court dealt with names -- How the people began to give names -- How names were symbols of empire -- The history of New York -- Of the French -- How the Spaniards named another kingdom -- When King Charles came to his own -- How the names became more English and less English -- How they took the names into the mountains -- Of the years when they fought the French -- Of a pause between wars -- How the Leather-Jackets rode north -- Of new names in the land -- America discovers Columbus -- Of the last voyagers -- Of ancient glory renewed -- Of the new nation -- Yankee flavor -- How they took over the French names -- Of Mr. Jefferson's western lands -- Of the dry country and the farther mountains -- Of a new generation -- Of patterns for street-names -- Flavor of the New South -- Melodrama in the forties -- "Ye say they all have passed away ..." -- How the tradition of the states was broken -- Of the cities of the fifties -- How they fought again -- How congress took over -- Of the last flourishing -- "Change the name of Arkansas--never! -- Of rules and regulations -- Flavor of California -- Of modern methods -- Cause célèbre -- Unfinished business -- Heritage

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews